Howard v. State

OPINION

MANNHEIMER, Judge.

Michael D. Howard appeals his conviction for fourth-degree assault. 1 Howard was con-viected of this crime based on evidence that he kicked another man in the face and ribs. Howard's defense at trial was self-defense; he presented evidence that the purported victim of the assault actually initiated the violence.

The issue presented in this appeal is whether the trial judge acted properly when he allowed the State to rebut Howard's claim of self-defense by presenting evidence of Howard's character for violence, through the testimony of a local police officer.

Under -…